Politicians, popstars and influencers are sporting hot pink

Pink has long been the colour associated with femininity, with its timeless appeal peaking when people fell in love with millenial pink – a dusty, muted rose.

But the hue has been replaced with a moodier, bolder sibling – hot pink fury – which celebrities, politicians and fashion designers are embracing in an edgy and defiant manner. 

Kim Kardashian, Zendaya, and Mika, Priti Patel and Elizabeth Warren have also been seen in it. While Pierpaolo Piccioli – the creative director of Valentino – has created Valentino Pink PP and put his whole SS22 collection in the hue.

Even royalty can’t resist the colour, with Queen Letizia of Spain and Kate Middleton both popping in pink dresses. 

The rise and rise of the colour, experts say, is down to stars ’embracing feminity’ amid an erosions of women’s rights, including proposals to overturn Roe vs Wade in the US.

It’s also a way to look bolder and embrace dressing up after years of streetwear dominating collections. 

Bridgerton star Simone Ashley is seen commanding attention in a Valentino Pink dress. Pink has long been the colour associated with femininity, with it timeless appeal peaking when people fell in love with millenial pink – a dusty, muted rose. But the hue has been replaced with a moodier, bolder sibling – hot pink fury – which celebrities, politicians and fashion designers are embracing in an edgy and defiant manner

During Eurovision, Mika and co-host Laura Pausini wore pink looks from Valentino (left) and Versace (right) 

Popular culture expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL the hue is all the rage and its here to stay. 

‘Its bright, bold and energetic. The trend started from the Valentino runway, then to McQueen, Loewe, Dior and Versace  and quickly has spread to fashionistas, pop stars, reality stars, business people, politicians and more in the past few months,’ he said.

‘This colour with its deep strong fuchsia hue is not only a powerful eye catching look it also stands for a lot more. 

‘Its an empowering colour that cannot hide and strangely it doesn’t wear the person the person wear it and that’s the most important part.   

‘It’s a silent stand for authority, drive and determination. 

‘It’s a silent shout with powerful meaning. 

Even royalty can’t resist the colour, with Queen Letizia of Spain and Kate Middleton both popping in pink dresses. 

Sebastian Stan sported a pink Valentino suit to the Met Gala in May – turning heards in the bright number

Kim Kardashian – perhaps the world’s most influencial influencer – has been described as the ‘poster girl’ of the pink movement by Vogue. Pictured in Skims

Elsewhere, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren wore a hot pink jacket to protest in front of the Supreme Court when a leaked draft opinion looking to overturn Roe v. Wade was published.

Jacquemus, which is a favourite of the likes of Megan Fox and Kendall Jenner , also have a hot pink range, including a ‘viral’ crop top

‘When Kim Kardashian wore it on SNL this was her way of making the spotlight firmly on her and commanding not only in words but mainly in style. 

‘Elizabeth Warren used this powerful colour to stride into congress to argue about on of most important constitutional issues of our time.’

Pink has long  signified peak femininity in pop culture from Elle Woods wearing pink every day in Legally Blonde to the infamous ‘On Wednesdays e wear pink’ quote in Mean Girls.

But a move away from the noughties films have seen modern groups and stars approach the colour in a more subversive manner.

K-pop group Blackpink define their name as ‘a denial of pink, ‘the prettiest colour’.

Meanwhile, celebrity stylist Rochelle White says the colour is ‘completely dominant’ in a post-Covid world.

‘Hot pink is dominating the fashion world, red carpets and runways in 2022. 

‘I feel that because the past two years have been mainly based in luxe lounge wear and casuals, people are looking to step out on more bolder, energetic, brighter shades of pink. 

‘Hot pink is having a moment and many celebs, models, even politicians and royals are here for it. 

‘I feel that the colour stands out, and depending on if you have something to say or want to just make a stand this is the colour to do it. 

During her SNL hosting gig in October, Kim wore bright crushed velvet Balenciaga coat and thigh-high boots for her rehearsal

Carey Mulligan has also sported Valentino Pink – she is pictured at the 2021 Met Gala

Kim in pink! The billionaire mogul is a brand ambassador for Balenciaga – one of the key drivers behind the trend.

‘Anyone can wear pink as it suits almost every skin tone. 

‘The colour is and can be so versatile from adding a pop of colour to an all black outfit to added that much needed flare to a summer dress. 

‘The colour screams spring, summer, holiday vibes and can be rocked in accessories or full garments. This is a colour here to stay for now.’

The celebrity dominance has trickled down to the mainstream too.

On shopping app Lyst, searches for pink items have increased by 24 per cent in the past month, with blazers, dresses and bags seeing a spike.

Searches for hot pink swimming costumes, shoes, earring and minidresses have all increased more than 100 per cent of Google too.

On shopping app Lyst, searches for pink items have increased by 24 per cent in the past month, with blazers, dresses and bags seeing a spike. Searches for hot pink swimming costumes, shoes, earring and minidresses have all increased more than 100 per cent of Google too. Kim is seen in Pink

Nailing it! Kim also sported hit pink nails – with the initial P on them – to show off her new boyfriend’snameFpriti

UK home secretary Priti Patel (pictured) sported the hue to the No Time to Due World Premiere 

Newly wed Nicola Peltz wore Valentino Pink to the the 2022 Met Gala

Lil Nas X sported a vibrant number -alongside his backing dancers – to perform on stage during Audacy Beach Festival at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park 

Kim Kardashian – perhaps the world’s most influencial influencer – has been described as the ‘poster girl’ of the pink movement by Vogue.

The billionaire mogul is a brand ambassador for Balenciaga – one of the key drivers behind the trend.

During her SNL hosting gig in October, Kim wore bright crushed velvet Balenciaga coat and thigh-high boots for her rehearsal. 

She later changed into a puff jacket in the same colour, and on air she delivered her now viral monologue in  crushed velvet catsuit, gloves and Balenciaga knife boots before performing a sketch in Barbie-pink dress.

It was her first high profile performance following her divorce from Kanye West – with the defiant hue showing her independence.

Justin Bieber sported a pink hat to GRAMMY’s alongside his Balenciaga suit

Female politicians in the look include Nicola Sturgeon (left) and Nadine Dorries (right)

Since, she’s made underwear from her shapewear line Skims in hot pink, and famously only posts photos with a pink and blue hue to her Instagram.

Elsewhere, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren wore a hot pink jacket to protest in front of the Supreme Court when a leaked draft opinion looking to overturn Roe v. Wade was published.

Visibly angry, she kept the jacket on for TV interviews, directly drawing attention to women’s rights. The colour is also used by Planned Parenthood and the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the abortion clinic (also known as ‘the Pink House’) cited in the Mississippi court case.

In a reaction to the same leak, artist Sho Shibuya covered a copy of The New York Times in the same bold shade of pink.

Speaking to Highsnobiety, Daniel Benkendorf, Associate Professor of Psychology at the Fashion Institute of Technology said the reemergence of hot pink is ‘timely’ given ‘fears about the erosion of reproductive rights’.

 ‘I expect hot pink’s moment is just beginning,’ he added.

‘Hot pink represents quite a contrast [to Millennial pink] because along with being significantly more intense and bold, it is also often perceived as aggressively feminine,’

‘Millennial pink, which is muted and soft, was seen as a neutral colour that reinvented pink as androgynous. It was calming, unpretentious, and egalitarian. Hot pink demands our attention so that it can invite us to play, or signal something serious.’